Testing apparatus



w.w. GRAMER. TESTING APPARfiTU S.

. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, I915.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

avwentoz I W 14 Gramei' general WALTER WESLIE GRAMER, 0F MARINETTE,WISCONSIN.

TESTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

Application filed March 8, 1919. Serial No. 281,567.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER W. GRAMER,

a citizen of the United States residing at Marinette, in the county ofMarinette and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Testing Apparatus, .of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the ac companying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in testing apparatus, andhas relation more particularly to a device of this general characterespecially designed and adapted for use in connection with the ignitionsystem of an internal combustion engine, and it is an object of theinvention to provide a novel andimproved apparatus of this generalcharacter whereby it may be readily determined which of thefplugs may befaulty or dead and which also operates to determine trouble in the coil.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedapparatus of this character comprising normally closed circuit breakersinterposed in the wires leading from the coil to the plugs and each ofwhich circuit breakers is operable independently of the other,'togetherwith spaced terminals forming a spark gap coacting with each of thecircuit breakers, whereby the same may be placed in electricalconnection with the coil when the circuit to a plug broken.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved testingapparatus, whereby certain important advantages are attained and thedevice rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenientand advantageous for use, 51$;Vl11 be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that myinvention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a testing apparatus constructedin accordance with an embodiment of m invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevationof the device as herein embodied, witha portion broken away. i

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substan' tially on the line 33 of Fig.1, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal view taken substantially on theline l-4 of Fig. 3'.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, H denotes a housinghavingi'disposed through a side wall 1 thereof a plurality of bindingposts P adapted for electrical connection through the medium of theconductors or wires on with a coil box (not shown) preferably of thetype employed in connection with the ignition system of the Fordautomobile. Also disposed through this wall 1 is a second seriesofbinding posts P adapted for electrical connection through the medium ofthe conductors or wires Z) with the spark plugs (not shown) of the motorproper. Arranged within the housing H is a shelf 2 having securedthereto the base members 3 in electrical connection with the posts Pthrough the medium of the conductors or wires 0 and the securing membersA for said base members 3.

Pivotallyengaged and in electrical connection with each of the basemembers 3 is a switch S. This switch comprises a pair of springjawswhich normally engage the opposite faces of the flattened exten sion5 of a post P extending within the housing H, so that direct electricalconnection is normally maintained between the coil and a spark plug.

Extendingv between the jaws of each of the switches S is an end portionof a plug A having rectilinear movement through the second side wall 6of'the housing H. The portion of the plu A arranged between the springjaws of the switch is pivotally engaged therewith, as indicated at :7,so that upon imparting endwise movement to the plug A, the switch S willbe engaged with or disengaged from an extension 5 of post P. When thepost is inwardly disposed, the switch S is in engagement with anextension To facilitate the desired manipulation of the plug A, theouter endportion tlicreof is provided with a button 8 or the li (e.

The outer face of the side wall 6, below each of the plugs A, isprovided with a recess or pocket 9 in which extends a pair of spacedterminals 10 and 10 forming a spark gap. The terminal 10 extends withinthe housing H, as indicated at 11, so that when a plug A is movedoutwardly or withdrawn, the coacting switch will have electricalengagement therewith.

All of the terminals 10 are connected in series and with a post Pdepending from the bottom of the housing H. The post P is 7 adapted tobe suitably grounded through the medium of a comluctor or wi re d.

The extensions 5 of the post P and the portions 11 of the terminals 10constitute contact members and, as hereinbetore stated, the switches Sare normally in engagement with the extensions or contacts 5.

In the event of engine trouble, upon pulling out a plug A to cause thecoacting switch to engage a contact 11, the plug connected with theconcomitant post P will be cut out and a spark will be created betweenthe terminals 10 and 10 under control of such switch. it the spark thuscreated is thin and streamy, it will indicate that the trouble is in thedistributer or coils or the conductor or wire a leading therefrom. Ifthe spark should be good and when the plug A is pushed inwardly toengage the contact 5, and the coacting cylinder of the motor does notfire, the trouble is with the spark plug or the valves are not closing.7

By pulling out three plugs A, resulting in the motor running on onecylinder, a thorough test is made of that cylinder while the sparks ofthe remaining cylinders may be determined. Each cylinder may, in turn,be tested in this manner.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that atesting apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention isparticularly well adapted tornse by reason of the convenience andfacility with which it may be assembled and operated and it will also beobvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modificationwithout departing from the principles and spirit thereof and tor thisreason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precisearrangement and lfornniition of the several parts herein shown incarrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

1 claim:

1. fix spark testing apparatus including a housing provided with anopening in one of its walls, a pair of spaced terminals extending withinsaid opening and. torming a spark gap, one oi said terminals beinggrounded and ti 5 second of said terminals evtcnding within the housingto provide contact, a pair of contacts carried by the second wall ot thehousing, adapted. to be interposed in a line leading from a coil to aplug, a movable contact member supported within the housing and inelectrical connection with one of the last named contacts, said movablecontact, when in one position, engaging the second of the last namedcontacts, and when in a second position contacting with the first namedcontact, and a member engaged with the movable contact and extendingexteriorly ol the housing for imparting movement to the movable contactmember.

A. spark testing apparatus including a housing provided with an openingin one of its walls, a pair of spaced terminals extending within saidopening and forming a spark gap, one of said terminals being groundedand the second of said terminals extending within the housing to providecontact, a pair of contacts carried by the second all of the housing,adapted to be interposed in a line leading from a coil to a plug, amovable contact member supported within the housing and in electricalconnection with one of the last named contacts, said movable contact,when in one position, engaging the second of the last named contacts,and when in a second position contacting with the first named contact,and a member engaged with the movable contact and extending exteriorlyof the housing for imparting movement to the movable contact member,said member being pivot-ally engaged with the movable contact member andsupported for substantially rectilinear movement.

3. A spark testing apparatus including a housing provided with anopening in one of its walls, a pair of spaced terminals extending withinsaid opening and forming a spark gap, one of said terminals beinggrounded and the second of said terminals extending within the housingto provide contact, a pair of contacts carried by the second wall, ofthe housing, adapted to be interposed in a line leading from a coil to aplug, a movable contact member supported within the housing and inelectrical connection with one of. the last named contacts, said movablecontact, when in one position, engaging the second of the last namedcontacts, and when in a second position contacting with the first namedcontact, and a member engaged with the movable contact and extendingexteriorly of the housing for imparting movement to the movable contactmember, said movable contact member coniprising a pair of spring jawshaving similar ends pivotally engaged within the housing, the contactswith which said spring jaws coact being received between said jaws.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

VALTER VVESLIE GRAMER Witnesses:

LAWRENCE BUNDY, MIKE SETUNSKY.

